What’s happening in my world, this week:
- Work: writing M&B #84 (True Love romance set in the world of art, partly in Florence); updating my website one backlist book per day; and faffing about with my Big Book
- Reading: looking forward to seeing what’s next on my TBR
- Looking forward to: Chloe’s uni open day at Leicester at the weekend (aka my old uni) and Bill Bailey on the way home
- Workouts: planning to go to the gym – I need to show my face and get back into routine
- Planet Kate last week: Absolutely manic, even by my standards! I’ve been trying to finish my book and fit in a whole bunch of other stuff. So Tuesday morning started with a trip to Manchester for an open day at the university for Chloe. Whatever the satnav says, I never seem to manage it in less than five hours (and we don’t stop that long for lunch!). But we got there safely, had a look round the science museum, had dinner and went to the Royal Exchange to see Beckett’s ‘Happy Days’. Maxine Peake was excellent, but the play was very challenging! Wednesday, we visited Mrs Gaskell’s house, and what a joy it was. The original furnishings were sold, so the curators worked with inventories and letters to find what was there and then purchased pretty much the nearest equivalent (exactly right in period terms). Best of all, WE WERE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE BOOKS. There might have been a bit of squeaking over being allowed to touch an actual Currer Bell. Then we had the uni open day, and it’s currently in top slot – lovely buildings, a good and honest talk, and then being shown round by one of the students. Thursday, met up with a friend I’ve known for more than 10 years online but hadn’t actually met in person before, so there was much walking and talking and it was so nice to meet her; and then the five-hour drive home. Two days of concentrated work to catch up, then Gerry’s birthday and a trip to the beach, where Archie decided he was brave enough to go right into the sea for a swim (and was less than happy to discover that meant a bath to get the salt and sand out of his coat!). Oh, wait, I forgot something: publication day for my 79th Harlequin Mills & Boon! (Read more about it here on the website.)
- Fave pic from the last week: Mrs Gaskell’s writing desk, the Faculty of Arts building at the University of Manchester, and Wells-next-the-Sea. And then I think I ought to include my book…
